NC State head coach gives report on prominent QB`s retirement. N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren publicly commented for the first time on former quarterback Grayson McCall’s unexpected retirement from football during his weekly press conference ahead of Saturday’s game against Stanford. Doeren emphasized that he and the Wolfpack staff allowed McCall to manage the situation in his own way and at his own pace.
“I told him, ‘You do what you need to do. We’re here to support you,’ and that’s really all there is to it,” Doeren said. “I added, ‘When you’re ready to share your next steps, we can talk.’ We understood how this was developing, and I wanted him to handle it in his own manner. He’s earned every opportunity in this sport. He’s a great teammate, an excellent young man to coach, and he has a promising future in coaching if he decides to pursue that path.”
During his brief four-game career with the Wolfpack, McCall experienced two concussions. He left the Louisiana Tech game on September 14 before halftime after hitting his head on the turf and subsequently missed the next two games. McCall returned to action on October 5 against Wake Forest but was hit during his first offensive drive.
While rushing the ball, he collided with several defenders, resulting in him losing his helmet and mouth guard and briefly losing consciousness. Medical staff transported him to the hospital, and he was discharged later that night. The following week, Coach Doeren initially did not rule McCall out for the rest of the season, expressing his support for McCall, his family, and the medical team as they assessed the quarterback’s condition.
‘We kind of knew after the game’
Doeren noted on Monday that it became evident soon after the Wake Forest game that McCall likely wouldn’t return. “We kind of knew after the game,” he said. “If he had another concussion, that would probably be it. It happened pretty quickly; it was really just about the steps he wanted to take and when he was ready to share it publicly. Announcing such a decision is a significant step, and saying those words out loud is tough, even when you know it’s coming. I thought he handled it very well. There’s a lot that gets discussed behind the scenes before things become public.”
McCall announced his retirement on October 23, two and a half weeks after his last game, following time spent with his family. “Unfortunately, my dream has been cut short. As you know, I’ve dealt with injuries throughout my career, but this one I can’t come back from,” McCall stated. “I’ve done everything possible to keep playing, but I believe this is where the good Lord has called me to serve in a different way. After discussions with brain specialists and my family, we’ve concluded that it’s in my best interest to hang up the cleats.”
‘He’s still a captain’
McCall’s final season at Coastal Carolina in 2023 ended due to a similar injury when he made helmet-to-helmet contact with an Arkansas State defender and fell to the ground. Paramedics took him to a nearby hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion. Following NCAA concussion protocols, he did not play for the remainder of the season. After spending five years at Coastal Carolina, McCall transferred to N.C. State as a highly-anticipated addition.
During his time at Coastal, he became the only player to win Sun Belt Player of the Year three times and left with school records for total touchdowns (106), touchdown passes (88), and passing yards (10,005). At N.C. State, he appeared in four games, amassing 518 passing yards and three touchdowns. His career totals include 11,653 yards of total offense, 91 passing touchdowns, and 18 rushing touchdowns.
NC State head coach gives report on prominent QB`s retirement. Despite his retirement from playing, he will continue to be actively involved with the team, participating in meetings, attending practices, and traveling. True freshman CJ Bailey will be the starting quarterback, with Lex Thomas as his backup. “He’s still a captain and a leader,” Doeren said. “He’s helping CJ and Lex during meetings. At practice today, he was outstanding, giving them advice and sharing his insights. He loves football and the camaraderie it brings. He’s going to excel, whatever path he chooses.”
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